It's your first trip to New York City, and you're only staying for a three-day weekend. While it's impossible to take in all the excitement of the five boroughs in such a short time (lifelong NYC residents discover something new every day), you can still enjoy many of the City's essential attractions. Read on for a plan that will help you make the most of your time—these are the sights and sounds you must experience before you leave.Day One (Midtown)See the SkylineNew York City is defined by its skyline, and all city skylines are measured against New York's—the silhouette created by Manhattan's buildings is nothing short of iconic. In fact, NYC is home to more than 100 buildings measuring 500 feet or taller.While you can feel this immensity everywhere in NYC, it's best experienced from the observatories at the and at Rockefeller Center's . (After you've enjoyed the scenery from atop a skyscraper, you might long for a grounded vantage point that gives you a wide-angle perspective on Lower and Midtown Manhattan; you'll find that on day three of this itinerary, when you cross the and have a choice of lookouts from and the .)Walk Through Times Square is where it all happens. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, the bright lights, big screens and bustling crowds perfectly embody the excitement of the city that never sleeps. For the greatest effect, visit after sunset—all that wattage will make you think it's still light out. And now that much of the area is closed to vehicles, you can safely stroll in the streets. While there, dine at one of the popular eateries on (46th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues) and shop in the huge flagship stores with spectacular extras that are attractions on their own (H&M, for example, has a fahion runway). Still daylight? From Times Square, it's just a 15-minute stroll—heading north on Sixth Avenue, past classic sights like Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall—to the , where you can visit one of the world's finest collections of contemporary art.Give Your Regards to BroadwayNobody does live theater like NYC. Whether you're into dramas, comedies or musicals, you'll find them all in the City's Theatre District, where burst with eye-popping sets, A-list celebrities and, above all, pizzazz. You can choose from long-running shows like Chicago and The Lion King, newer smash musicals such as Kinky Boots and The Book of Mormon and projects featuring big Hollywood stars. All of the performances demonstrate why this famed NYC thoroughfare has become synonymous with theater itself. Visit the in Times Square for discounted tickets to some shows, and climb the red steps for an unmatched view of the area.Day Two (Uptown, the Bronx and Queens)Stroll the Museum Mile (Upper East Side)The storied Museum Mile actually measures a couple of blocks longer than a mile. Regardless of its precise length, this Upper East Side stretch of Fifth Avenue may have more culture per square foot than any other place in the universe. Your tour starts at , at East 82nd Street, where you can view limited-time exhibitions as well as objects in the museum's permanent collection, which consists of more than 2 million works of art that span the breadth of human history. Walk uptown to the modern and contemporary artwork housed at the , at 89th Street. The journey continues up to East 104th Street, where the has special exhibitions about local history. Go Wild (The Bronx)The City is known for its cultural offerings, famous skyscrapers and Central Park, but many don't realize that NYC is home to North America's largest urban zoo—the , located in Bronx Park and operated by the Wildlife Conservation Society. The zoo's more than 250 acres house 6,000 animals representing in excess of 600 species. Visitors can marvel at the tremendous diversity of life on earth and learn about all kinds of creatures: Madagascar hissing cockroaches and king cobras, snow leopards and sea lion pups. Architecture buffs will be impressed by the structures here: Rainey Memorial Gates, the Rockefeller Fountain and the beaux-arts buildings of the zoo's Astor Court are all landmarks.Those visiting the Bronx will find that it is also paradise for flora fanatics. The , located in another section of the expansive Bronx Park, is a National Historic Landmark, and its 250 acres are home to more than a million plants. The garden features the largest herbarium in the Western Hemisphere, a renowned scientific research program and an extensive schedule of fascinating programs and exhibitions.Catch a Ball Game (The Bronx or Queens)The and both play in relatively new stadiums that juxtapose cutting-edge amenities with homages to NYC's unparalleled baseball history. The plaques at Yankee Stadium's Monument Park reveal this rich past with tributes to all the greats—Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Reggie Jackson, Thurman Munson and many more. Citi Field's majestic Jackie Robinson Rotunda salutes the renowned baseball hero and civil rights pioneer.Day Three (Lower Manhattan, Brooklyn and Staten Island)Cross the Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan)The was the world's longest suspension bridge when it was completed in 1883. Though that record has long since been surpassed, the bridge is still an iconic structure and an inspiring symbol of humankind's ability to invent and achieve. The landmark also provides one of the most dramatic walking routes in New York City. You can cross in either direction, but consider taking the subway to Dumbo or Brooklyn Heights—each worth visiting in its own right, for arts venues and brownstone-lined streets, respectively—and then walking back over the East River toward Lower Manhattan, snapping photos of downtown and New York Harbor along the way. Ride the Staten Island Ferry (Lower Manhattan and Staten Island)This 5-mile, 25-minute from Lower Manhattan to the northern tip of Staten Island is free—and the views are priceless. Throughout the journey, you'll take in magnificent vistas of Lower Manhattan and New York Harbor. At the end of the trip, ferry riders are transported to the historic St. George District—home of the and the magnificent , now in its ninth decade.Celebrate American History (Lower Manhattan and New York Harbor)For more than a hundred years, the , with her raised torch lighting the way to a better life, has symbolized the promise and opportunities of the United States. Looking up at the statue during a ferry ride in New York Harbor still provides an emotional jolt. Also, another boat ride away is historic , with exhibitions that commemorate the thousands of immigrants to the City who passed through its famed Main Hall.Come Back SoonThere's only so much you can do in three days—so we hope you'll come back soon and explore even more of the City. For suggestions of more things to in NYC, visit nycgo.com's other sections for an in-depth look at everything the five boroughs have to offer.
